Singapore Law Blog

Second Reading Speech on Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill 2007 by Deputy Prime Minister, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law Prof S Jayakumar in Parliament on Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007.

The President, acting in his discretion and on the advice of the Prime Minister, has appointed Justice V K Rajah, age 50, as a Judge of Appeal under Article 95 of the Constitution. The appointment takes effect from 11 April 2007.

Amendments to the Singapore Armed Forces Act were tabled in Parliament on 9 April 2007. The proposed amendments will give the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) more autonomy and legal powers to conduct security operations in support of civilian authorities within Singapore. The amendments specify the particular circumstances under which the SAF will be activated to support the conduct of security operations, and the selected legal powers that can be exercised by SAF servicemen.

It has been reported in Singapore media that the Singapore is trying to get the Court of Arbitration for Sport to set up in Singapore. Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was set up by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the international arbitral body capable of resolving disputes in the field of sports. In addition to Switzerland, the CAS has two additional courts, one at the National Dispute Resolution Center in Sydney, Australia and the other in Denver, Colorado.

Speech by George Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the Opening Dinner of the Inaugural Conference of the Asian Society of International Law on 7 April 2007 at 7.30pm at Meritus Mandarin.

The Asian Society of International Law’s Inaugural Conference will be held on the Bukit Timah Campus of its Secretariat, the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore (NUS), April 7-9, 2007. The establishment of the Asian Society of International Law is an historic occasion and the President of the International Court of Justice, H.E. Dame Rosalyn Higgins (United Kingdom) will address the Inaugural Conference to celebrate the occasion.

In various media reports, President of the SMA Council, Dr Wong Chiang Yin, was quoted as giving the information that it may cost $200,000 to seek a guidance from the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS).

SMA has decided to withdraw the GOF based on advice that it has received from several of its legal advisors. The CCS welcomes this decision.

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) understands that the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) has received advice from several of its legal advisors that its Guideline on Fees (GOF) may contravene Section 34 of the Competition Act, and has therefore decided to withdraw its GOF with immediate effect.

Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) and the Hanoi Securities Trading Center (HASTC) today (2 April 2007) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster mutual co-operation between both capital markets.

The Singapore Medical Association ("SMA") has decided to withdraw its guidelines on fees as of 1 April 2007. In a letter to its members dated 1 April 2007, the SMA said it had been advised by its legal advisors that its Guideline on Fees contravened the Competition Act.

Judicial Commissioner Sundaresh Menon will leave the the Supreme Court to return to private practice at Rajah & Tann. Mr Menon, 45, who has served as a Judicial Commissioner for one year will end his service at the Supreme Court on 3rd April 2007. In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office thanked him for his service.

During the Committee of Supply Debate 2007, Deputy Prime Minister, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law, Professor S Jayakumar announced the main proposed amendments to the en bloc sale legislation. These and other amendments were recommended by a study team that was set up to review the en bloc sale legislation.

The National Internet Advisory Committee (NIAC) and its related committee, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC), will be re-constituted into the Internet and Media Advisory Committee, with effect from 2 April 2007.

Archaeologists digging around the Red Sea made one of the most important discoveries of modern times, the discovery of the Red Sea Scrolls. The importance of the Red Sea Scrolls are said to be equal to their more illustrious cousins, The Dead Sea Scrolls. The scrolls. made under seal, containing the following contract of employment.

The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) is conducting its first triennial review of the Media Market Conduct Code and is seeking public feedback. The move is part of MDA’s continual efforts to nurture a pro-business environment while ensuring more media choices for the public.

Singapore today (26 March 2007) became the first member of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to deposit its instrument of ratification for the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks.

A new Council, The Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society (AIMS), will be formed on 1 April 2007 by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), to study the far-reaching social, ethical, legal and regulatory implications of a rapidly growing Interactive and Digital Media (IDM) sector. It will also make recommendations to the government on how these issues should be managed while keeping pace with the d evelopment of IDM in Singapore.

One Balmoral sets record for collective sale price in Balmoral Road area when its was sold for $125m to the Hong Leong Group. This works out to $1,188 per square foot per plot ratio (psf/ppr), the highest ever yet for a Balmoral Road property. Mount Everest Properties handled the sale.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) released a policy consultation paper on the proposed amendments to the Property Fund Guidelines ("REIT Guidelines").

The Ministry of Information, Communications & the Arts (MICA) is embarking on a public consultation to seek feedback from the industry and members of the public on the draft Postal Services (Amendment) Bill, which will effect amendments to the existing Postal Services Act.

In the Opening Address By Ms Grace Fu, Minister Of State For National Development, At The BCA Green Mark Seminar "Greening The Built Environment" 2007 At Shangri-La Hotel, 20 March 2007, she spoke about the updates on Green Building Masterplan that included legislation to impose minimum requirements on environmental sustainability.

Singapore and Japan have amended the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement (JSEPA) to bring about greater liberalisation in trade of goods and services.

The new Solicitors Code of Conduct will come into effect from 1 July, 2007, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced on 19 March 2007.

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has published a draft Copyright (Excluded Works) Order 2007 for public consultation as of 15 March 2007. Public will have from 15 March to 14 April 2007 to review and comment on the draft 2007 Order.